Here are the latest national COVID-19 trends, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and major wastewater surveillance providers:
- COVID-19 test positivity increased significantly, from 1.0% of COVID-19 tests returning positive results during the week ending June 27 to 1.4% positive during the week ending July 4.
- SARS-CoV-2 concentration in wastewater stayed consistent between June 27 and July 4, and the national wastewater viral activity level is “very low,” per the CDC.
- SARS-CoV-2 concentration in wastewater increased 7% between June 24 and July 1, and the national wastewater trend is “medium,” per WastewaterSCAN.
As of early July, it’s clear that a summer COVID-19 wave is getting started in the U.S. Disease levels are going up in the South and parts of the West Coast. While national and regional estimates are still low following a long spring lull, it’s worth noting that the latest data are usually a week or two old and case counts may be higher in your area than they appear.
WastewaterSCAN continues to report increasing SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater through early July, in its national average as well as regional averages for the South and Northeast. The organization updated its regional wastewater category for the South to “high” this week and reports some concerning increases at testing sites in Florida, Texas, and Georgia. WWSCAN also reports major increases at some sites in California, Hawaii, and Idaho.
Meanwhile, the CDC is still reporting very low averages for its national and regional wastewater viral activity levels, but its categories are calculated from a higher baseline of disease spread than WWSCAN’s categories. The CDC reports that SARS-CoV-2 levels are “low” in wastewater for Texas, Florida, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii compared to “very low” in all other states.
Wastewater data from state health departments similarly show increasing COVID-19 spread in parts of the South and West. For example, California’s dashboard reports a sustained increase in its statewide average for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater between mid-June and early July; though this average is still “very low” compared to past data. Colorado’s dashboard also reports increases in Denver and Colorado Springs, and other metropolitan areas.
In test positivity data: the CDC’s PCR testing network reports a national average of 1.4% for positive COVID-19 tests in the week ending July 4, which is a significant jump from numbers under 1% for the last two months. This network reports bigger and sustained increases in the South and Southwest (health regions 6, 7, and 9) as well as potential increases in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest (health regions 1, 3, 4, and 5).
And the CDC’s infectious disease forecasting center estimates that COVID-19 cases are “growing or likely growing” in 11 states as of July 8, primarily across the South and West: Florida, Texas, Nevada, California, Hawaii, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia. The center estimates that cases are “declining or likely declining” in 18 states and “not changing” in 21 states.
In other public health news, officials are warning about an outbreak of the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensi, which causes intense gastrointestinal symptoms. Michigan’s health department has reported over 3,000 cases of cyclosporiasis as of July 14, compared to around 50 cases in a typical year. Cases in other states may be underreported as the CDC made tracking this disease optional last year, the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy flagged in a recent article. Health officials recommend carefully washing produce, especially lettuce and salad greens.
